Junior Kindergarten

The Junior Kindergarteners were introduced to beginning computer skills while they sorted sizes, pets, found matching parts, recognized and made patterns and built with geometric shapes. For fall we grew virtual pumpkins to turn into jack o’ lanterns.. We explored numbers by building a bug with many legs, tails, eyes, ears, and spots!

Counting, numerals, and patterns were subjects of exploration in math programs this trimester. Winter has provided many opportunities to make and compare weather and find out what animals do in the winter. They decorated snowmen, and also, gingerbread cookies. Both slide shows are on my web page, http://ls-staff.francisparker.org/jmcdonald/.  After the animal assembly, the children made their own slide show with the photos taken during the assembly. Last month reading readiness was the focus using online storybooks, the alphabet and phonics.

Counting, numerals and geometric shapes were subjects of explorations in math programs this trimester. We also made spring weather; put butterfly and frog life cycle pictures in the correct sequence to complete slide shows. Bookmarks were made for Father’s Day. We ended the year with identifying colors and color words to illustrate and narrate our “My Colorful World” movie that’s sure to become a treasured keepsake!,

Senior Kindergarten

The alphabet, phonics, rhymes, patterns, colors, seasons. Pandas. and owls were all subjects of exploration while learning new tech skills, and gaining confidence in the Tech Center. We went online to visit the panda cam at the San Diego Zoo, and watched short video clips of owls to “research” the animal of the month. The panda cam and other fun places to visit are linked from my web page. http://ls-staff.francisparker.org/jmcdonald

The alphabet, phonics, rhymes, patterns, beginning math facts, colors, seasons, and whales were all subjects of exploration while learning new tech skills, and gaining confidence in the Tech center. We watched short video clips of whales to “research” the animal of the month. Penguin facts were researched online using the Picture Dictionary linked from my web page. http://ls-staff.francisparker.org/jmcdonald/. During Language and Culture week we “visited” four different countries in Trudy’s Time and Place house.

We started the trimester with math equations, and continued on to explore the life cycle of frogs. Their drawing skills using the mouse are wonderful, as evidenced by the retelling of Good Night Gorilla to make into our own Senior Kindergarten video that’s sure to become a treasured keepsake!

First Grade

After a quick review of previously learned technology skills, we brushed up on phonics, rhymes, addition, and subtraction facts.  Columbus and Thanksgiving provided opportunities to learn more about maps. We graphed the class’ Halloween costumes, and had fun using logical thinking in I Spy Spooky Mansion.

Map skills were a continuing focus at the beginning of the trimester, as well as calendars, weather and time measurement. For the MLK Day observance we explored the ways micro finance is helping people world wide at OneHen.org. After their trip to the Birch Aquarium, the students researched a sea animal to draw and tell an interesting fact about. The Sea Animal slide shows are on my web page, http://ls-staff.francisparker.org/jmcdonald/  Now, they are using the photographs from the play Fairy Tale Forest to make their own slide shows and to write a story.

Lights, Camera, Computers, Action!! After using the photographs from the play Fairy Tale Forest  to make their own slide shows and to write a story, the first graders started a movie project. Everyone became a scriptwriter for our movie Picnic. Some even took on the roles of director, cinematographer and script person. After writing their scripts, they recorded their lines in iMovie. The final product is a DVD to take home for the whole family to enjoy. It’s sure to become a treasured keepsake

Second Grade

My Family provides the major theme for our first trimester projects. First, we used a graphic organizer to tell about our immediate family. In keeping with the Coming to America play, we then interviewed an older relative to compare their school days and childhood with school days today. Using the information gathered, each student is drawing, writing and making a video. Keep checking the Coming To America page linked from my web site! http://ls-staff.francisparker.org/jmcdonald. This year we have also added an additional Math and Language Arts workshop time to assess and practice skills.

Keyboarding was introduced this trimester, and we will continue to practice the first 15 minutes of each class. The family interview videos are ready to be published! The DVD will be coming home soon. As an extension of the classroom Flat Stanley project the second graders were introduced to the Tech Center's cameras. After taking pictures of each other with their Flat Stanley, they downloaded the pictures to iPhoto. The pictures are being used to illustrate a story about his or her many adventures. The additional Math and Language Arts workshop time to assess and practice skills continues.

Keyboarding was introduced after the winter break, and we continued to practice in the first 15 minutes of each class. After researching their famous person in the classroom, they used the research to each make a movie of their person’s life, complete with transitions and music. I compiled all of their movies into one DVD to send home as a wonderful keepsake!

Third Grade

Keyboarding in our new challenging program is practiced the first 15 minutes of each class. Our Tech Center’s digital cameras are providing the inspiration for Language Arts- paragraph writing. After taking pictures of each other, they downloaded the pictures to iPhoto. The pictures were cropped, exported, and used to illustrate a well-written paragraph about themselves. The photo videos are linked from my web page http://ls-staff.francisparker.org/jmcdonald This year we have also added an additional Math and Language Arts workshop time to assess and practice skills.

Our new enhanced Keyboarding program is proving to be engaging, as well as challenging. Keyboarding is practiced the first 15 minutes of each class.  Exploring idioms was the 3rd grade focus this trimester. We discussed and studied the literal and intended meaning of many idioms. The internet was used to learn more about their history. After much exploration, teams of two chose one idiom to illustrate the literal meaning and metaphorical meaning. These illustrations are being used to produce a comic, showing that the students understood the meaning and place for idioms in our language. The additional Math and Language Arts workshop time to assess and practice skills continues.

Keyboarding continued to be practiced in the first 15 minutes of each class. After they researched, studied and built Native American tribe villages in their classroom. Each student scripted their own Native American Legend to make into a movie, complete with transitions and music. I compiled all of their movies into one DVD to send home as a wonderful keepsake